Farm Bill Held In Senate Committee

The current 2002 version of the bill expired in September, and the Farm Bureau said farmers are protected through the current crop season. However, Missourians should focus on the debate in the Senate because it affects more than just farmers.

"In reality almost two-thirds of the farm bill now goes to nutrition programs to help those that are low income Americans, senior citizens and school children through the school lunch program," said Garrett Hawkins of the Missouri Farm Bureau. "Truly, we are talking about nutrition assistance that most of the farm bill is going to."

The House passed a version of the bill in July. The holdup is in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

According to Senator Claire McCaskill's office, the senate may not see a finalized version of the bill until the end of October.